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Management

Christy Abraham

Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Christy provides executive leadership for the effective functioning of the Organization duly articulating appropriate strategies, plans and oversees the program activities to meet the aims and objectives of APD.

Ms. Christy provides executive leadership for the effective functioning of the Organization duly articulating appropriate strategies, plans and oversees the program activities to meet the aims and objectives of APD.

Christy Abraham

Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Christy Abraham, is a dynamic leader, with more than 25 years of experience, working on a range of development and human rights issues. She is passionate about rights of poor and excluded groups and communities, and has worked on issues of Disability, HIV and AIDS and Women’s Rights. She has also got substantial experience in fund raising and donor communications and management.
Starting her career in Ashraya Children's home in 1986, Ms. Christy moved to ActionAid in 1990 and served in several key roles providing leadership for national programmes including as the Regional Manager for Karnataka and National Theme leader for HIV and AIDS. Prior to moving to APD, Christy was with ActionAid International Secretariat as International coordinator of women’s rights. She brings with her significant grounded experience in mobilising communities, formation of Networks, Community Based Organisations and building community perspectives on rights and justice. Through her intense efforts, presence and passion for social sector, she is a well known person in the development sector. She is on the Board of few National organisations, including Ashraya. She has facilitated and supported publications of 25 research papers and findings across multiple domains in development.
A post graduate in Social Work with specialization in Management, she has received further trainings in Leadership Development by Chulalankorn University Bangkok, Thailand and by Maxwell School of Public affairs, Syracuse University, USA. Christy is not unfamiliar to APD. She had collaborated with APD in 1990-96 while working on a Project funded through ActionAid and brings old familiarity and memories with her from days with Late Ms. Hema and Late Mr. Naidu.
As the Chief Executive Officer of APD, Ms. Christy provides executive leadership for the effective functioning of the Organization duly articulating appropriate strategies, plans and oversees the program activities to meet the aims and objectives of APD.

Ravi Raghavan

Director – Marketing & Communication

Mr. Ravi Raghavan comes with rich experience in the professional career spanning over three decades across key functions in General Management, Marketing, Sales, Retail, Franchising, Licensing, incubating Startups up to fund raise. He has 5years of experience in leading International Companies (served in Dubai).

Mr. Ravi Raghavan comes with rich experience in the professional career spanning over three decades across key functions in General Management, Marketing, Sales, Retail, Franchising, Licensing, incubating Startups up to fund raise. He has 5years of experience in leading International Companies (served in Dubai).

Ravi Raghavan

Director – Marketing & Communication

Mr. Ravi Raghavan comes with rich experience in the professional career spanning over three decades across key functions in General Management, Marketing, Sales, Retail, Franchising, Licensing, incubating Startups up to fund raise. He has 5years of experience in leading International Companies (served in Dubai).
Mr. Ravi Raghavan has done his MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies and a 3 Year PGDBM from Xavier Institute of Management specializing in HR & Organization Behaviour.
We are confident that, our Marketing, Fund raising and Communication approach and efforts will further be strengthened under his able guidance & Leadership.
On the personal front, Mr. Ravi has been living in Bangalore for the past 6 years and has travelled all over India during his childhood and past career experience. His Spouse is employed with a PSU, and their Twin daughters are studying Engineering and Law respectively. He is interested in Sports, Music, Movies and reading.

Mr. Senthil N S Kumar

Director - Technical

Dr.N.S.Senthil Kumar has 18 years of varied experience in the field of rehabilitation across areas in clinical, academics, research, innovation, commercialization and research grant writing. His experience is enhanced by his 8 years of career experience in Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore.

Dr.N.S.Senthil Kumar has 18 years of varied experience in the field of rehabilitation across areas in clinical, academics, research, innovation, commercialization and research grant writing. His experience is enhanced by his 8 years of career experience in Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore.

Mr. Senthil N S Kumar

Director - Technical

Dr.N.S.Senthil Kumar has 18 years of varied experience in the field of rehabilitation across areas in clinical, academics, research, innovation, commercialization and research grant writing. His experience is enhanced by his 8 years of career experience in Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore. He also has 9 years of International work experience from reputable Universities and Hospital from Malaysia. Dr.Senthil has great interest towards research and done more than 15 international peer reviewed journal publications and have 4 Intellectual properties (2 Patents & 2 copyrights). He has also authored a book in Biomechanics under Jaypee brother medical book publishers.
Dr.Senthil has done his PhD, Doctorate degree in Rehabilitation with full scholarship from the National University of Malaysia (University Kebangsaan Malaysia) and also served as a Graduate Ambassador of UKM for 2 years representing the University in the International arena.
On the personal front, Dr.Senthil was brought up in Vellore, Tamilnadu. His spouse is a Physiotherapist and he is father of two children, a 11 year old daughter and a 4 year old son.
He is a nature lover, enjoys gardening, music and reading.

He is a Fellow member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (FCA) and Post graduate in Financial Management (M. Com)..”

He has overseas and indigenous experience in controlling and enhancing financial processes and reviewing financial data for facilitating strategic financial growth of organizations.

He is an active participant of various seminars and other programs initiated by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and actively participating in academics as measure of continuous learning. He also worked as a visiting faculty and Board of Studies member to some of the reputed management institutes and colleges.

Ram was CFO of EVRY India Pvt. Ltd a subsidiary of a Norwegian IT and ITeS conglomerate EVRY.

Prior to EVRY Ram was with Siemens as AGM.

His interests are Movies and travelling.

K.N.Subhashini

Director – HR, MIS, IT and Donor Assurance

Mrs. Subhashini holds Masters in Commerce (M.Com). She has overall 33 years of experience [18 years of experience in Banking Domain in Managerial cadre and 15 years of experience in IT Product Support Services & Implementation / Delivery Management].

Mrs. Subhashini holds Masters in Commerce (M.Com). She has overall 33 years of experience [18 years of experience in Banking Domain in Managerial cadre and 15 years of experience in IT Product Support Services & Implementation / Delivery Management].

K.N.Subhashini

Director – HR, MIS, IT and Donor Assurance

With her core strengths in delivery leadership & governance, people management, customer service/relationship management – she has joined APD to provide leadership to the Support functions, viz. HR, Donor Assurance, IT , MIS & Quality.

Shiva C. Hiremath

Deputy Director – Administration/Government Interface

Mr. Hiremath joined APD in 1988 as a training officer in industrial trades after completion of his Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and Craftsman Training from Mumbai.

Shiva C. Hiremath

Deputy Director – Administration/Government Interface

Over the years he has been the Principal of Training Center, heading livelihood program both Institutional and Community based, facilitating the effective and appropriate livelihood opportunities for Persons with Disability. He is also involved in training to the staff of APD as well as to other NGOs on leadership and the promotion of livelihood for the disabled. He has participated in several symposia and presented papers on vocational training for the persons with disability. Recent year, he holds the responsibilities to implement the District Disability Development program in three dist of Karnataka state.

Mr. Hiremath now heads the overall Administration of the organization and facilitating to meet the Admin requirement of all programs and Management. He also plays a vital role in Interfacing with Government to increase the better relationship and collaborate for ensuring more resource spending on Disability by the government.

He loves to play volley ball, badminton, carom and chess, likes to travel and enjoys the beauty of nature.

K. Usha Rani

Deputy Director – New Initiatives

Ms. Usha’s quest for a challenging and different job after graduation brought her to APD’s Shradhanjali Integrated School.

K. Usha Rani

Deputy Director – New Initiatives

Starting as a teacher of Science and Mathematics, she now manages the rural and urban education programs for the organization.

Usha has a flair for languages and can speak 5 Indian languages comfortably. She is always open to learn and loves to take on new challenges.

She has been involved with education programmes of APD and has developed and executed a number of programmes that are running successfully in APD. She also has trained thousands of teachers in inclusive education and deaf education across Karnataka.

Now she is in to a new role to unlearn and learn all over again .She now takes care of new initiatives, that is start and implement all the new projects of APD . Her quest to learn and contribute continues in the new avenues.

Ganesh Hegde

Deputy Director – Livelihood/Horticulture - Training

Mr. Ganesh is an agriculture graduate who has specialized in horticulture from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad.

Ganesh Hegde

Deputy Director – Livelihood/Horticulture - Training

Mr. Ganesh Shivaram Hegde began his journey at the Association of People with Disability (APD) Bangalore in 1992. He did his B.Sc (Agriculture) and later post graduation in Environmental Science. Ganesh leads the Horticulture Training Unit of APD which is unique and only one of its kinds in India.

The Unit has been in existence since 1987 and the programme has seen over 1800 persons with disability find gainful employment in the areas of gardening, horticulture, cookery, sustainable agriculture, and allied fields. The beneficiaries are largely people with loco motor disabilities, deaf persons and people with learning disability, in the age group of 18 to 30 years, who drop out from school and are from the poorest of poor families from different regions of Karnataka.

The Horticulture programme promotes ecology/green environment and is also therapeutic. Ganesh is undoubtedly one of the very few individuals who have expertise in both the areas of horticulture and disability.

During his tenure with APD, he has trained many gardeners, gardener specialists, supervisors and entrepreneurs. He has also supported several other NGOs to initiate horticulture therapy projects to reach out to more people with disabilities.

Ganesh presently runs all livelihood programmes of APD for gainful employment like horticulture, industrial training centre, employment lead training, job readiness programme, and all departments connected with them for mobilizing youth withdisabilities.

C.Reuban Daniel

Assistant Director-SCI

Reuban Daniel Chandrasekaran has 12 years of varied experience in the social sector .He is a physiotherapist by profession .He has vast experience in the field of Spine care Physical therapy trained in the Mckenzie’s Technique that evolved from New Zealand.

Reuban Daniel Chandrasekaran has 12 years of varied experience in the social sector .He is a physiotherapist by profession .He has vast experience in the field of Spine care Physical therapy trained in the Mckenzie’s Technique that evolved from New Zealand.

C.Reuban Daniel

Assistant Director-SCI

Reuban Daniel Chandrasekaran has 12 years of varied experience in the social sector .He is a physiotherapist by profession .He has vast experience in the field of Spine care Physical therapy trained in the Mckenzie’s Technique that evolved from New Zealand. He keeps praising his alma mater " Christian Medical College, Vellore" which is one of the most renowned Medical institute where he did his Bachelor degree in Physiotherapy(BPT) by 2001 for all his domain skills he has now .He has also pursued his Master Degree in orthopaedic Physiotherapy ( MPT) .He is passionate in low cost rehabilitation for various people with disability and spinal cord injury in specific . He is a life member of IAP. Started his career in 2005 he has worked in various sectors of rehabilitation especially in the domains like Prevention of Impairment, Deformities, Management of foot ulcers, physical rehabilitation & Fitness in remote villages of Tamilnadu and Maharashtra .Prior to joining APD's team in 2014, he was working with The Leprosy Mission trust's hospital in hamlets of Maharashtra for People affected by leprosy. His passion is Working with the most deserving socio economically marginalised people. He enjoys in developing & implementing rehabilitation programs ,Imparting his skills to his peers and grass root level carers .As his passion he believes in two things " Together we can and together we will" . To reach the unreached places of disabled "Either Go or send" .On the personal front he hails from the Pearl city of Tamilnadu -Tuticorin .His spouse is also a physiotherapist and they both have a old son born in 2015.

Ramesh D. Gongadi

Assistant Director –RSO (Resource Support to Organizations)

Ramesh Gongadi joined APD as a Assistant Director –Strategy, currently he is working as a Assistant Director –RSO (Resource Support to Organizations).

Ramesh D. Gongadi

Assistant Director –RSO (Resource Support to Organizations)

Ramesh Gongadi joined APD as a Assistant Director –Strategy, currently he is working as a Assistant Director –RSO (Resource Support to Organizations). He has over 14 years of working experience in the development sector. Ramesh has a, Master’s in Social Work from School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, Mangalore and MBA in HRM & Rural Management from IIBM New Delhi.

Earlier he worked with Kalike –An Associate Organization of TATA Trusts as Project Director in Yadgir for five years, worked with Diocesan Social Service Centers under Karnataka Regional Organization for Social Services (KROSS) Bangalore, State Training & Resource Center (STRC) a collaborative project of BIRDS, KSAPS and NACO for five years. He supported implementing agencies, with key role to support/monitor project team. Ramesh‘s core skill areas are elementary education, health, disability, community development, monitoring and supportive supervision.

His engagement with disability work includes support to children with learning difficulties, had involved in conducting survey & needs assessment of PWDs. He represented the NGOs of Yadgir district for UNDP’s Human Development Index study 2013-14. He also participated in KSAPS annual Targeted Interventions (TIs) evaluation as an External Evaluator conducted by NACO in the year 2008-09.

His present role in APD is to work with the partner NGOs to improve the operational excellence for effective growth of the partner organization, work with Government at the state and district level to pro-actively develop operational framework for implementation of early stage Intervention and early education and provide the local network and contacts for enabling the growth and sustainability of the project.

His hobbies are listening to Music, watching cricket, gardening and conducting sessions on ‘Personal Growth & Professional Development and Project Management’ for the students of Social work and NGOs.

Babu. S

Assistant Director –Strategy

Babu.S joined APD as Assistant Director –Strategy, has over 15 years of working experience in working with pro-people groups and development sector

Babu. S

Assistant Director –Strategy

Babu.S joined APD as Assistant Director –Strategy, has over 15 years of working experience in working with pro-people groups and development sector. Babu has a, Master’s and Mphill., degree in Psychology, Bangalore University.

Earlier he has worked with Child Rights and You (CRY) as Manager in Development and support team Karnataka. He has worked with EQUATIONS as programme coordinator. He was involved with nomadic and semi nomadic tribes in Karnataka to work on the rights of tribal. Babu’s core skill areas are Child Rights, disability, perspective building, advocacy, community development, monitoring and supportive supervision. His engagement with disability work includes support to disability collective and involved with the collective for 4 years as coordinator of CRY.

His present role in APD is to work with advocacy team, work with Government at the state and district level to pro-actively develop advocacy strategies to build ecosystems for the growth of the sector.

His hobbies are reading, writing and travel.

Guru Prasad S

Assistant Director – Education

Mr. Guru joined APD in the year 2000 as a Community Organizer in Urban Slum Outreach Program after completion of his Post Graduation in Rural Development Studies from Bangalore University.

Guru Prasad S

Assistant Director – Education

This outreach program aimed to empowering individuals and their families to become independent in managing disability in their own communities.

Mr. Guru has been involved in developing a new program called Resource Support to Organizations to promote disability development work in Karnataka both in institutions and communities through NGOs and institutions.

He now runs the comprehensive Education programs in Bangalore Urban, Chikkaballapur, Davanagere and Bijapur districts of Karnataka and is responsible for evolving, planning and managing different rural and institutional initiatives that is aimed at ensuring effective and appropriate opportunities in education, medical rehabilitation, skills training, employment for persons with disabilities.

His overall responsibility is for directing & managing of all education Programmes of APD institutional, Districts and RSO’s to ensure efficient, effective & appropriate education opportunities for children with disabilities to achieve inclusion in society.

Over the years he has participated in several symposia and presented papers on CBR approaches & practices, Promotion of inclusion of persons with disability. He also facilitated various training programs on development, project planning and Monitoring & Evaluations. He also serves as a guest lecturer for CBR courses from the Bangalore University through CBR Network.

He is a Common Purpose graduate and leader in the Landmark Forum.

A.L.Janardhana

Assistant Director – EI, CMH & SCI

Mr. A. L. Janardhana hails from a remote village in Madhugiri Taluk and post graduated in psychology from Mysore University and Bachelor of Education ( B .Ed) degree from R.V College, Banglore University.

Mr. A. L. Janardhana hails from a remote village in Madhugiri Taluk and post graduated in psychology from Mysore University and Bachelor of Education ( B .Ed) degree from R.V College, Banglore University.

A.L.Janardhana

Assistant Director – EI, CMH & SCI

Started career as teacher in High School as teacher & from 2000 to 2003, worked as State level resource person in Grama Panchayath members Capacity Building Training programme about Karnataka Panchayath Act-1993, through the satellite programme at State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) Mysore. Govt. of Karnataka.

From April 2003 to April 2007 he has moved rural NGO called Grameena Abhudaya Seva Samsthe (GASS) at Doddaballapur, Banglore Rural District worked as Programme manager for CBR programmes.

In 2007, Mr. Janardhana joined APD as Project coordinator of the Urban Community Based Rehabilitation Programme. His Specialized areas are Advocacy and Peoples Organization programme and CBR & helping community staff to ensure education, rehabilitation, social inclusion and employment and rights among people with disabilities living in urban slums and rural villages.

He has served at various positions in APD over the last 9 years and presently working as Assistant Director for Early Intervention (EI), Community Mental Health (CMH) & Spinal cord Injury (SCI). His is overall responsible for directing & managing of all EI, CMH and SCI programmes of APD institutional, Districts and RSO’s to ensure efficient, effective & appropriate rehabilitation, Early Intervention and early education to children under EI and Rehabilitation and Livelihood opportunities to people with spinal injuries

He has resource person for National, State and District level seminars, Workshops and trainings on CBR, CMHP, Disability, Human rights, Child rights and advocacy and lobbying from state to Village level and Master trainer for Census 2011 Govt. of Karnataka.Committee member

He is common purpose graduate and State Access audit committee member of Commission of persons with Disabilities.

Banglore Metro access committee member

State Malnutrition eradication committee member ( Disability Wing)

Passion: - His passion is community approach and community mobilization.

About APD

The Association for People with Disability (APD) is a non-profit organization based out of Bangalore. Founded in 1959, we have worked extensively over the last 55 years to reach out and rehabilitate People with Disability from the under privileged segment.